Notices and Rules
Final Rule to Close the Wedge Area within the Massachusetts Restricted Area* (not currently in effect)
NOAA Fisheries amended the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan) to expand the boundaries of the seasonal Massachusetts Restricted Area (MRA) to include the wedge between state and Federal waters known as the Massachusetts Restricted Area Wedge (MRA Wedge). *This rule is not currently in effect
Published
02/06/2024
Emergency Restricted Area for the Trap/Pot Fishery: Massachusetts Restricted Area Wedge
Emergency Rule to close an open wedge of high risk to right whale entanglement to trap/pot fishing with persistent buoy lines from February 1 to April 30, 2023. This area was also in effect for April 2022.
Effective
02/01/2023
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program
The National Marine Fisheries Service, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program has prepared a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.
- Notice of Availability of Final PEIS (87 FR 69269, 11/18/2022)
- Notice of Availability to Amend Public Comment Period (86 FR 33705, 06/25/2021)
- Notice of Availability of Draft PEIS (86 FR 26514, 05/14/2021)
- Correction Notice (83 FR 18507, 04/27/2018)
- Notice of Intent to Prepare a PEIS (83 FR 13955, 04/02/2018)
Published
11/18/2022
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on Phase 2 Modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) intends to begin a rulemaking process to amend the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan) to reduce the risk of mortalities and serious injuries of North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis)
Published
09/09/2022
Amendment 21 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan
NMFS approval of Amendment 21 to the Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan, to limit ocean salmon fishery impacts on the availability of Chinook salmon as prey for Southern Resident killer whales.
Published
09/13/2021
Notification of Receipt of a Supplemental Petition To Ban Imports of All Fish and Fish Products From New Zealand That Do Not Satisfy the Marine Mammal
Receipt of supplemental petition to ban imports through emergency rulemaking; request for comments.
Published
09/29/2020
Notice for Comment on Petition to Ban Imports of All Fish and Fish Products from New Zealand that Do Not Satisfy the Marine Mammal Protection Act
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Receipt of petition to ban imports through emergency rulemaking; request for information and comments.
NMFS announces receipt
Published
02/25/2019
Implementation of Fish and Product Import Provisions - Notification of Comparability Findings
Under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries has issued comparability findings for the Government of Mexico's Upper Gulf of California shrimp fishery.
Published
12/06/2018